Patent GB-1125479-A (GB)
Title: Improved parking garage
IPC: E04H6/18
Filed: 1966-11-29
Abstract: 1,125,479. Mechanical garages. A. MENTIS. 29 Nov., 1966, No. 53485/66. Heading B8E A parking garage comprises cubicles A to R, Fig. 1, arranged in two columns and adapted to accommodate vehicles, the cubicles being moved upwardly in one column and downwardly in the other column by reciprocating transporters 7, 8 and being transferred between the tops and the bottoms of the columns by horizontally reciprocating bogies 5, 6, the transporters and the bogies being moved by a reciprocating frame 16, Fig. 3, disposed at the bottom of the columns. As described the circulation of the cubicles is clockwise and the connection between the transporters and the bogies 7, 8 and 5, 6 and the frame 16 is such that relative to the transporter movements the movement of the bogie 5 is accelerated when it is moved from the right hand column and is then decelerated so that the top cubicle in the left hand column can be so located that lugs 10 on the bogie move under lugs 9a on the cubicle without fouling them, and the movement of the bogie 6 is accelerated when it is moved to the right hand column and decelerated when it is moved to the left hand column so that lugs on the transporter 7 can be in a position below lugs 9 on the vehicle being transported by the bogie 6 before the lugs 9 are moved to overlap the transporter lugs. Vehicles may enter or leave the cubicles when these are at the bottom or access roadways may be provided at any vertical position in the columns, the latter extending partly below ground level. The lugs 9 on the cubicles project outwardly and the lugs on the transporters project inwardly. Similarly the lugs 10 on the bogie 5 project inwardly for engagement with the lugs 9(a) on the cubicles. Retractable stops 11, 12, Figs. 1 and 4, are provided to retain the columns of cubicles in the raised position while the transporters 7, 8 are being moved out of or into engagement with them; the cubicles have lugs for engaging the stops. The weight of the top cubicle in the right hand column is removed from the bogie 5 by upward movement of that column and the lugs 10 on the bogie 5 are moved clear of the lugs 9(a) on the cubicle before the column is moved downwards. The frame 16 is driven by a motor 17 through a crank 13 and a connecting rod 15. The frame supports the bogie 6 and is connected to the bogie 5 by cables 18 and to the transporters 7, 8 by cables 19 and 20. The operation of the stops 11, 12 and the movement of the bogies relative to that of the transporters are achieved by cams 21 . . . 24 mounted on the crankshaft 25 and operating cam followers 26 . . . 29. The cam followers 26, 27 are connected to the stops 11, 12 and operate these at the appropriate times, the stops being spring loaded to their extended positions. The cam followers 28, 29 are each connected to one end of a respective one of a pair of channel guides 30, 31 which are centrally pivoted and extend under the frame 16 in the direction of the latter's movement. The bogie 6 is slidably mounted on the frame 16 and is connected thereto by a linkage system 32 having a roller 34 engaging the guide 30 so that movement of the latter gives the desired movement of the bogie 6. Similarly the bogie 5 is connected via the cables 18 to the frame 16 by a linkage system 36 having a roller 37 engaging the guide 31 to give the desired movement 7 of the bogie 5. Instead of the frame 16 being moved by the crank 13 and the connecting rod 15 it may be moved by a reciprocating ram which also drives a cam-shaft. The stroke length of the bogies may be increased relative to that of the transporters by a conventional mechanism. The frame 16 may be mounted as a sub-frame in the bogie 6 instead of supporting the latter.